Spring Hill College Urban Survival Academy a Success

Fri, 06/14/2013 - 4:00pm

­­­Twenty-five children from across Mobile County enjoyed Spring Hill College’s first-ever Urban Survival Academy this week. The activities wrapped up Friday, June 14 with a visit from the Mobile Police Department. The MPD officers in attendance represented the motorcycle and mounted police division, and performed a number of complex obstacle course demonstrations for the children.

The Urban Survival Academy is a Community Service Project of the Spring Hill College Department of Public Safety. The objective is to provide an early educational program for elementary school children, ages 5-12.

Other community organizations visiting the Academy include representatives from Newman’s Ambulance Service, McGruff the Crime Dog, Mobile’s K-9 Search and Rescue Team, and the Mobile Fire Department. The children were instructed in vehicular, pedestrian, bicycle, weather, and fire safety, as well as ways to cope with bullying. Part of the week-long instruction included Spring Hill’s “RadKids” safety education and self-defense coursework.

The Urban Survival Academy is the brainchild of Spring Hill employee Laury Rowland, the college’s community resources officer. “The skills taught at the Urban Survival Academy will empower children with the ability to avoid needless accidents and instill good safety habits at an early age,” says Rowland. “We’ve had a very positive response from parents and children about the Urban Survival Academy experience. I’m looking forward to enhancing and improving the program even more for next year.”

Assisting with the program include Spring Hill Public Safety Officers Kelli Harris and LaRie Mitchell, as well as student workers Alex Agbi, Taylor Casper, and Rachael Strzembosz.

Future dates for the Academy include June 24-28 (full), July 18-12, and July 22-26, 2013. For program information, contact Laury Rowland at lrowland@shc.edu or (251) 380-4444.